So you want to learn how to paint with acrylics? You've been
thinking about this for some time now, but you have never sat down and
put paint to canvas. Why? For one, you don't know how to paint.
Second, you don't know where to begin.
Research:
If you are a novice to painting, the easiest way to begin is to do your
research. And one of the best places in which to do research is your
local library. Check out some books on basic drawing and sketching
techniques. In order to paint well, you will need some basic
understanding of drawing techniques as acrylic painting follows a lot of
the same techniques. Once you understand the basics of drawing and
sketching, check out books on how to paint with acrylics.
Acrylic Paints:
Acrylics are water-based and quick-drying. When acrylic paint dries,
it becomes light-fast and permanent. Acrylic paint is water-soluble
when wet, but water resistant when dry. Acrylic paints are vibrant when
applied using translucent layering. If you would like to add texture
to your painting, you can do so by mixing acrylic paints with gels or
pastes. You can apply the paint thickly and get effects similar to oil
paints, or you can thin the paint using water or medium and create
striking results such as you would get with watercolors.
Color mixing:
You will need to have an understanding of how colors are mixed in order
to use acrylic paints effectively. Learning about color wheels is
definitely on your to-do list. The primary colors on the color wheel
are red, yellow, and blue. These colors cannot be mixed or formed from
any combination of other colors. The secondary colors on the color
wheel are formed by mixing red and yellow to create orange, by mixing
yellow and blue to create green, and by mixing red and blue to create
purple. The tertiary colors are formed by mixing a primary color with a
secondary color. Knowing color wheel theory will help you learn how to
mix colors for your paintings so that they will be rich and vibrant and
not dull and drab.
Paint Grades: For beginners,
start out using less-expensive grades of acrylic paints until you
understand how they work. Paints can be expensive, so you want to
choose a basic set of primary colors that can be mixed to create the
secondary and tertiary colors on the color wheel. If you can afford to
buy more colors, do so. As you develop your painting techniques, move
on to professional-grade acrylic paints. Using high-quality paints will
only make your work better. Learn about the different types of acrylic
paints, the various manufacturers of those paints, and related products
that can be used to make your acrylic paints work well.
Brushes:
Synthetic brushes work best for acrylic paints. Stiff-bristled brushes
are useful for applying paint thickly to the painting surface.
Soft-bristled brushes are good for thin washes of color or thinned
paint. Three types of brushes to start with are Rounds, Flats, and
Filberts. Rounds are great because they have fine points for detailed
work. For blocking in large areas of color, choose Flat brushes.
Filberts are great for blending because they have a feathered top. They
can also be used to block in areas of color and for detail work.
Palette:
For a palette, choose a flat, plastic surface that is impervious to
water since acrylic paint is often thinned with water. Choosing a
palette with a lid or sealable compartments is great for keeping the
acrylic paint from drying out between painting sessions.
Surfaces: There
are many surfaces on which you can use acrylic paints: watercolor
paper, canvas boards, stretched canvas, MDF, hardboard, and plywood
panels, leather, and many other surfaces. Paper supports can be used if
they have been properly sized with a gesso or primer. The surface of
the paper must be sized before acrylic paint can be applied. If the
surface is not sized, the acrylic paint will sink into the fibers of the
paper surface and become dull and muddied.
Water Containers:
You will need a container of water to rinse your brushes between brush
strokes. Acrylic paint dries fast, so to ensure your brushes do not dry
with the acrylic paint on them, you need to rinse them often. If you
let acrylic paint dry on your brushes, they are basically ruined as
dried acrylic paints are difficult to remove from paint brushes.
With
a little knowledge of how to paint with acrylics, you can be well on
your way to becoming the artist you know you can be. Start doing your
research now, and in no time you will be putting out those masterpieces
lurking within you.
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